“Global Investment Summit”: $62.45 billion in energy, industry, and digital infrastructure investments in Gulf countries by 2030 - Sarmad

(KUNA) – Data released by the Global Investment Summit 2026, scheduled to be held in Paris on September 1 next year, forecasts that total investments in the renewable energy, hydrogen, advanced industries, and digital infrastructure sectors in the Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC) countries will rise from $32.87 billion in 2023 to $62.45 billion by 2030, an increase of $29.58 billion representing growth of nearly 90 percent.

The data shows that the renewable energy and hydrogen sector leads the three sectors in terms of growth rate, with investments expected to rise from $10.37 billion in 2023 to $22.77 billion by 2030, an increase of $12.4 billion and growth of nearly 120 percent.

This growth is linked to the expansion of Gulf countries in clean energy projects, increased reliance on renewable energy sources, and the development of hydrogen projects, alongside rising demand for emission reduction solutions and improved energy efficiency, which enhances the sector’s attractiveness to local and international capital.

Investments in digital infrastructure are also expected to rise from $9.45 billion in 2023 to $18.36 billion by 2030, an increase of $8.91 billion and growth exceeding 94 percent, driven by the expansion of data centers, cloud services, telecommunications networks, and the rapid growth in artificial intelligence applications and digital transformation.

The growth in this sector reflects the increasing need for more capable technological infrastructure to accommodate the expansion of data and digital services, coinciding with the acceleration of digitalization in government, financial, industrial, and service sectors, as well as increased investments related to artificial intelligence and emerging technologies.

In advanced industries, estimates indicate that investments will rise from $13.05 billion in 2023 to $21.32 billion by 2030, an increase of $8.27 billion and growth exceeding 63 percent.

The expected growth in this sector is driven by the expansion of Gulf countries in localizing value-added industries, developing supply chains, increasing reliance on automation and modern industrial technologies, alongside growing investments in industries related to energy, technology, and advanced manufacturing.

Collectively, these indicators reflect the growing interconnection among the three sectors, as the expansion of digital infrastructure supports industrial transformation, while clean energy and hydrogen provide more sustainable sources for industrial projects, thereby opening new investment pathways that combine technology, manufacturing, and sustainability.

The Summit aims to direct 25 percent of investments toward modern technologies and adopt environmental, social, and governance (ESG) sustainability standards in 55 percent of targeted projects, thereby enhancing the development of more efficient and sustainable projects capable of achieving long-term economic impact.

Summit data points to expected European investment flows to GCC countries valued at $28.59 billion, alongside the development of 15 joint projects and the establishment of 8 strategic partnerships during the first year, opening new pathways for investment in clean energy, infrastructure, and sustainability-related technologies.

The Summit will take place over two days, with the participation of more than 2,000 attendees and 100 speakers across 10 main sessions and 16 workshops, and more than 40 bilateral meetings, within a program aimed at linking capital with promising opportunities, supporting international partnerships, and transforming initiatives into executable projects in the key investment sectors of the Gulf countries.